The Christian and Government

As a publically-educated, American-born citizen, I have, for as long as I can remember, believed in the power of representative government: the power of the people. Over the course of 2009, and the many political changes that came with it, that belief has been shaken. The hope is still there, that it is and can be, a long-lasting form of government that gives enormous freedoms to this nation’s people, but my trust in representative government has taken a serious hit.

The Apostle Paul, as I’m sure you know, lived under Roman rule: a government that stood decidedly against Christianity in Paul’s time, and yet he writes the following in the first 2 verses of Romans 13:
"Everyone must submit to the governing authorites, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgement on themselves."

My rebellious American spirit says, “No way! Throw out the evil rulers by whatever means necessary. Remove the oppressors!” But is that the plan of God for the believer? If we look at the nation of Israel throughout the Old Testament, we see a repeated pattern: God’s people recognize their need of the One True God and follow Him intensely for a time and then gradually their dedication to Him and to His plan weakens as they are distracted by the world around them and the many idols that it offers. Over and over, this leads to a time when God allows their nation to be attacked by heathen nations often resulting in many years of captivity and slavery for God’s people. The pattern continues with God’s people, crying out to Him in repentance and begging for deliverance. God raises up a leader, delivers His people, and calls them back into close fellowship with Him. They vow to let God be their King once again.

My favorite of these stories are those that include an evil ruler who is shocked into acknowledging the One True God. King Artaxerxes gives Nehemiah and the numerous other captives permission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and all the supplies needed to do so (Nehemiah 2ff). King Nebuchadnezzer made a decree that anyone who spoke against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego should be cut in pieces and their houses destroyed (Dan. 3:29). King Darius made a decree that all men must tremble and fear before the living and enduring God of Daniel who is a Savior and Deliverer (Dan. 6:26). And there are many others.

Jeremiah spoke the Word of the Lord to Israel when they were in captivity in Babylon: “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:7). My personal resolve in regard to this subject is to replace all my complaining and griping about our current government with prayer to our great God for those who are in authority. My prayer for them and for our nation is that our leaders will be shocked into acknowledging the one true God and that believers will cry out to the Lord in repentance and with an unwavering desire to serve the Lord whole-heartedly.

- Jenny Greene